The Big Storm : Raina's... Gone?

A FEW DAYS LATER

Anna and Raina have been a pair for a week now, and nothing had happened to them. Anna wasn't mysteriously attacked by unseen forces, and Raina was able to control herself in case it was her that had done it. Right now they were practicing out in front of the school.

Maka and Soul walk out of the school and just stop to watch her. Raina looks like she's dancing when she fights, and it's almost hypnotic.

Maka: She's really getting the hang of her weapon, isn't she, Soul?

Soul: Yeah.

Maka: (turning to Soul) Have Black*Star and Kid been bothering you about Raina?

Soul: Yeah. Black*Star can't seem to let anything go.

Maka: Nope. Never.

Just then, Black*Star and Kid with their respective partners walk out. Kid and Black*Star seem to be arguing about something, then stop in front of Soul and Maka.

Soul: Speak of the devil. (under his breath)

Black*Star: 'Sup Maka! What ya doin'! (Black*Star looks out to see Raina practicing. They can't tell if she knows that they're there or not, but if she does, she's ignoring them.) She practicing for our rematch? (he turns and yells out to Raina) There's no point, Raina! Your god won't take pity this time!

Raina: (she stops cold and looks over at Black*Star. Her stare is so deep that he can almost hear her words coming from her mouth, though it wasn't moving.) Don't be so sure, Black*Star.

Black*Star reels back, smashing into a column. Tsubaki comes over to him and helps him up.

Soul: What was that, Black*Star?

Black*Star: (regaining his dignity) I guess I might have surpassed God after all! I'm so awesome I read minds!

Raina shakes her head. She looks down at her weapon, who doesn't seem to be affected much by their training.

Raina: Anna, do you want to try quick?

Anna: I don't know... The last time...

Raina: Whatever happened the last time has nothing to do with now. We weren't synced, it wasn't going to work. It will work this time, I know it.

Anna: Alright, Rains. Let's go! Soul Resonance!

Once again, their souls erupt into a whirlwind around Raina. Maka decides to look at Raina's soul now - If she can feel it normally, the Soul Resonance power should hide the feeling.

Maka closes her eyes and activates her power, opening them again. Raina's soul is pure blue, but something bothers Maka. Swirls of purple swirl around Raina. As the power grows stronger, the purple swirls become more prominent. The purple swirls are moving around her, swiftly and majestically. They look like fish's tails in the water.

Raina then breaks it off successfully. Anna starts glowing and her human form runs up to her meister.

Anna: We did it, Raina! We actually did it!

Raina: You did great, of course.

Anna: No, you did all of the work.

Raina: (smiling but not wanting to argue anymore.) Oh, alright, I take all of the credit. (Raina laughs as Anna's face falls.

Anna: That's not fair... I want some of the credit...

Raina: (putting an arm around Anna's shoulder) Then take a hint next time I give you a compliment, k?

Anna: (smiling at Raina) K!

Black*Star: (who had been watching this and just has to butt in) So, Raina, now that you and your partner are all better now, why don't we schedule a rematch?

Raina: Another one, Black*Star? (looks at his determined face and sighs) Oh, very well. How about tomorrow in the forest. (Her voice turns darker and deeper) We'll have a showdown, just you and me, and our weapons.

Black*Star: (a little scared at her statement but not showing it) Yeah, I'm totally going to prove my godliness to you once and for all.

Raina: (rolling her eyes and walks away with Anna. She talks to herself in her mind) 'We'll see who proves their 'godliness,' Black*Star. We'll see,'

NEXT DAY

Raina quietly walks into the classroom. It's during a break and Raina made sure that Maka wasn't going to be in there. She walks up to Stein.

Raina: Professor? I need some... help.

Stein: (not concerned) What about, Raina?

Raina: (her voice has changed, she sounds a little older and a lot more smug) I think you know full well what she need's help with, Stein. (spitting the name out)

Stein: (reacting to his name, looking over at Raina. He notices immediately that her eyes are now a dark blue.) No... (Whispering)

Raina: (smirking at Stein) Oh yes. It's too late now, Stein. I've taken control. The girl-

Before she knows it, Stein quickly gets up from his chair and swiftly twists her arms behind her back. Raina's face twists into a look of discomfort. Her eyes brighten a shade for a second.

Raina: Professor Stein! What are you doing!

Stein looks at Raina's eyes when she turns to face him. They've brightened, but they are still darker than their regular shade.

Raina: (her eyes darken a tad, and Stein notices) Professor! Let me go! (the voice sounds a little higher pitched than Raina's own, like it's being faked.

Stein: (growling) I'm not letting go until you do.

Raina: (back to the smug voice) Then I guess we'll have to stay here forever. I'm sorry, but it's impossible for me to let go. Now, if you'll excuse me...
Raina pokes him and a purple wavelength shoots from her finger, shocking him and allowing Raina to escape his grasp.

Raina: Nice try, Stein. But I'm afraid that's not going to work. (turns to walk out the door) Well, I have to be going.

Stein: (calmly again) You do know that class will start soon, right?

Raina: (smirking at Stein, eyes full of icy fire) Absolutely.

With that she turns and walks out of the room. Stein looks after her with a second of fear, then goes back to his paperwork. He would tell Lord Death after class.

After class was over he followed the students out, hearing Maka's conversation with Soul and her other friends behind him.

Maka: I just don't believe it, Soul. Raina's never skipped class before. I can't help but think something's wrong. She was really upset about Anna before... I think something might have happened to her.

Soul: You're worrying too much. Not everyone likes coming to school, you know. (Maka chops him, and he stays quiet for a second) Anyway, Anna wasn't here today either. Maybe they had a fight.

Maka: Nah. Then Stein would have to be there to supervise. And Black*Star told me he was taking Anna to hang out. I hope he didn't attack her.

Kid: (coming up behind her) Is this about Raina?

Maka: (whirling to face him) How'd you know?

Kid: I noticed she wasn't in class today, and what you said with Black*Star taking Anna out. (smirks) I think he's trying to find Raina's weakness.

Stein smiles in spite of the situation. These kids knew each other so well, and when a new kid comes in, they welcome them with open arms. But now...

Stein walks into a room where there's a mirror to call Lord Death. He waits until he can see Death's face.

Stein: Hello, Lord Death? We have a problem?

Death: (in his silly voice) Oh! What is that, Stein!

Stein: It's the new girl, Raina. Something's wrong with her.

Death: (a little more serious) What's wrong?

Stein explains everything to Lord Death, and his mask morphs into a look of distaste.

Death: This isn't good. I never thought that coming here would activate her soul...

Stein: Lord Death... I think we need to stop her soon. She's attacked a student, taken over her body and mind.

Suddenly, Stein hears Black*Star yelling in the hallway.

Black*Star: Tsubaki! You are going to witness your god at work today! I'm going to kick Raina's butt! She won't know what hit her!

Tsubaki: (mumbles something to Black*Star quietly- Stein can't hear)

Black*Star: Of course she wasn't there! She was too scared to come out and face me! AHAHA!

They walk away, leaving both Stein and Death in a second of shock. Then Stein regained his composure and pushes his glasses up.

Stein: Well, I never thought Black*Star's big mouth would ever come in handy... (looks at Death in the mirror) We can't let him fight her alone.

Death: (in a somber tone) We have to. Raina, before she lost control completely, challenged Black*Star to a one-on-one battle. The only way we can keep her here is if she's distracted by him. Stein, contact Spirit and get Marie. We need to finish this.

Stein: Alright. I'll ask Black*Star where this showdown is supposed to happen.

Death: Alrighty then! See ya later!

The mirror ripples and leaves Stein with his reflection. He quickly walks out of the room heading in Black*Star direction. He quickly catches a shout from him. He sounds like he was outside.